Hand differences and reported intensity of nociceptive stimuli.

The hypothesis tested in the present study was that subjects would report higher intensity of heat-pain sensation for the left hand than for the right given right-brain dominance for negative emotion and tactual sensitivity. Low, medium, and high temperatures (42 degrees, 45 degrees, and 48 degrees, respectively) were presented to 20 healthy subjects' left and right forearms, wrists, and backs of hands. Using a modified magnitude-estimation scale, subjects rated the intensity of "heat-discomfort" that they felt following each 5-sec. stimulus presentation. Mean magnitude estimations for the left- and right-hand responses to high, medium, and low heat were analyzed using a 2 x 3 totally within-subjects analysis of variance. No significant differences between the right and left hands were observed for intensity of pain perception.